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and other procedures for use of public <br />property. <br /> <br />· Offer the use of public structures and <br /> property, if made available to one provider, <br /> to other providers on reasonably similar <br /> terms and conditions - no exclusive <br /> contracts. <br /> <br />Advance planning <br /> Local governments can require or encourage <br />companies to lay out their expected needs for <br />multiple tower sites over a reasonable time into <br />the future, rather than applying for one tower site <br />at a time. Localities might proyide incentives for <br />applicants to submit long-range plans and <br />multiple site applications. The application fee <br />structure can be used to that end, as can a <br />commitment to expedite processing time. <br /> As with co-location, intergovernmental <br />cooperation is a key to success in sharing <br />limited resources across multiple jurisdictions. <br /> <br />Pre-determination and identification <br /> Identifi/ing and "mapping" of appropriate <br />facility sites in a community can be useful. The <br />public works director, county engineer or an <br />outside engineering firm could determine <br />appropriate sites for cellular towers and other <br />personal wireless communications facilities. Small <br />communities might pool resources to prepare an <br />area-wide list of appropriate sites. This kind of <br />information will be very useful when a jurisdiction <br />evaluates a particular application. It will also help <br />when the county reviews and revises its zoning <br />ordinance. With such a survey in hand, the local <br />government will also be in a better position to <br />approach the cellular industry for its cooperation <br />in agreeing to the siting plan. <br /> Some help is also available from the FCC to <br />assist localities in implementing this kind of <br />advanced planning. The FCC maintains a general <br />database that lists the location and owner of all <br />towers over 200 feet, towers over 20 feet on <br />existing structures, such as on a building or water <br />tower, and towers that are close to airports. The <br />FCC also maintains a database of cellular and <br />SMR licensees that contains some, but not all, <br />information on their existing tower locations. <br /> <br />Joint ventures with the local government <br /> Some local governments have invited private <br />telecommunications providers to bid on the <br /> <br />construction of towers to be shared by the local <br />government for public safety communications and <br />by the private sector for its own needs. The <br />private sector gets a tower site on public property, <br />and the local government gets a facility built at <br />little or no cost. Other examples of joint ventures <br />include: <br /> · Leasing space to telecommunications <br /> providers on an existing or new public safety <br /> tower. <br /> <br />Leasing space to telecommunications <br />providers on public structures that are not <br />otherwise used for telecommunications M <br />on a water tower, for example, or on top of a <br />county office building. <br /> <br />· Leasing street light stations and publicly- <br /> owned utility poles. <br /> <br />Leasing publicly-owned land for <br />construction of wireless communications <br />facilities. <br /> <br /> Another caveat: .the local government may <br />assume added liabilities as a tower owner. <br /> Leasing public structures requires compatibility <br />reviews. For example, if a single water tower <br />serves the entire community, the risks of damage <br />or water contamination may outweigh the benefits <br />of co-location. Any structure that has a radio <br />antenna on it that extends more than 20 feet <br />above the structure is also subject to FCC and <br />FAA aeronautical limitations and requirements <br />and must be registered with the FCC by the <br />owner. Recently amended federal law makes the <br />tower owner, not just the wireless service provider, <br />responsible for safety, compliance with FCC and <br />FAA rules, and other regulations, including <br />painting and lighting. In this context, the term <br />"tower" includes any structure to which an <br />antenna is attached, including buildings. <br /> In implementing a joint-venture with private- <br />sector providers, a local government should: <br /> · Consider conducting a study of the local <br /> government's telecommunications needs; <br /> <br />Consider a lease-purchase arrangement that <br />transfers the facility to government <br />ownership after a certain time; a mm-key <br />arrangement whereby the private provider <br />builds to suit; or a long-term lease where <br />ownership of the facility stays in private hands; <br /> <br />A Co~Nn~ aNo locat Omclat~ Guioe ro~ TeteCO~A~UNICar~O~ Act or 1996 <br /> <br /> <br />